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Energies
Volume 18
Issue 20
10.3390/en18205353
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Bend–Twist Coupling for Small Wind Turbines: A Blade Design Methodology to Enhance Power Generation

by
Juan Pablo Vanegas-Alzate
1,
María Antonia Restrepo-Madrigal
1,
José Luis Torres-Madroñero
2,
César Nieto-Londoño
1,2,*,
Germán Alberto Barragán de los Rios
1,
Jorge Mario Tamayo-Avendaño
3,
Julián Sierra-Pérez
4,
Joham Alvarez-Montoya
2 and
Daniel Restrepo-Montoya
2,5
1
Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
2
Grupo de Energía y Termodinámica, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín 050031, Colombia
3
Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Ambiental, Departamento de Mecánica, Institución Universitaria Pascual Bravo, Medellín 050034, Colombia
4
Corporación Rotorr, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cr. 45 26-85, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
5
Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales, Corporación Universitaria Remington, Cl. 51 51-27, Medellín 111321, Colombia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(20), 5353; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205353 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 1 September 2025 / Revised: 6 October 2025 / Accepted: 8 October 2025 / Published: 11 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Small-scale wind turbines (SWTs) represent a promising solution for the energy transition and the decentralization of electricity generation in non-interconnected areas. Conventional strategies to improve SWT performance often rely on active pitch control, which, while effective at rated conditions, is too costly and complex for small systems. An alternative is passive pitch control through bend–twist coupling in the blade structure, which enables self-regulation and improved power generation. This work proposes a novel blade design methodology for a 5 kW SWT that integrates passive bend–twist coupling with conventional pitch adjustment, thereby creating a hybrid passive–active control strategy. The methodology encompasses the definition of aerodynamic blade geometry, laminate optimization via genetic algorithms combined with finite element analysis, and experimental characterization of composite materials. Aerodynamic–structural interactions are studied using one-way fluid–structure simulations, with responses analyzed through the blade element momentum method to assess turbine performance. The results indicate that the proposed design enhances power generation by about 4%. The study’s originality lies in integrating optimization, structural tailoring, and material testing, offering one of the first demonstrations of combined passive–active pitch control in SWTs, and providing a cost-effective route to improve efficiency and reliability in decentralized renewable energy systems.
Keywords: small wind turbines; blade design; pitch control; bend–twist coupling; genetic algorithms; composite characterization small wind turbines; blade design; pitch control; bend–twist coupling; genetic algorithms; composite characterization

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Vanegas-Alzate, J.P.; Restrepo-Madrigal, M.A.; Torres-Madroñero, J.L.; Nieto-Londoño, C.; Barragán de los Rios, G.A.; Tamayo-Avendaño, J.M.; Sierra-Pérez, J.; Alvarez-Montoya, J.; Restrepo-Montoya, D. Bend–Twist Coupling for Small Wind Turbines: A Blade Design Methodology to Enhance Power Generation. Energies 2025, 18, 5353. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205353

AMA Style

Vanegas-Alzate JP, Restrepo-Madrigal MA, Torres-Madroñero JL, Nieto-Londoño C, Barragán de los Rios GA, Tamayo-Avendaño JM, Sierra-Pérez J, Alvarez-Montoya J, Restrepo-Montoya D. Bend–Twist Coupling for Small Wind Turbines: A Blade Design Methodology to Enhance Power Generation. Energies. 2025; 18(20):5353. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205353

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vanegas-Alzate, Juan Pablo, María Antonia Restrepo-Madrigal, José Luis Torres-Madroñero, César Nieto-Londoño, Germán Alberto Barragán de los Rios, Jorge Mario Tamayo-Avendaño, Julián Sierra-Pérez, Joham Alvarez-Montoya, and Daniel Restrepo-Montoya. 2025. "Bend–Twist Coupling for Small Wind Turbines: A Blade Design Methodology to Enhance Power Generation" Energies 18, no. 20: 5353. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205353

APA Style

Vanegas-Alzate, J. P., Restrepo-Madrigal, M. A., Torres-Madroñero, J. L., Nieto-Londoño, C., Barragán de los Rios, G. A., Tamayo-Avendaño, J. M., Sierra-Pérez, J., Alvarez-Montoya, J., & Restrepo-Montoya, D. (2025). Bend–Twist Coupling for Small Wind Turbines: A Blade Design Methodology to Enhance Power Generation. Energies, 18(20), 5353. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205353

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